Xavier and Children's Hospital host the fifth symposium for parents of special needs children

Parents will find numerous community resources and support at the Remarkable Families Symposium 2012 | February 24, 2012

Xavier's College of Social Sciences, Health, and Education and the Center for Infants and Children with Special Needs at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital are hosting the Remarkable Families Symposium 2012 on Friday, Mar. 2, from 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. in the Cintas Center.

The fifth annual symposium invites tri-state parents raising children with special needs to learn about new information, resources and networking opportunities that build family resiliency and teach them how to help their families not only to survive but also to thrive.

Plenty of free parking is available. Registration is $25, including lunch, and can be completed online at www.xavier.edu/familyresiliency. A limited number of attendees will be admitted free of charge. Please call 513-745-3703 for more information about free admission.

Gary Sweeten, EdD, of Sweeten Life Systems is giving the keynote address. It is his life’s work to support families raising children with special needs both practically and spiritually. He recently began mobilizing churches and community organizations to build support systems around families of children with disabilities. In this session, he shares key insights from parents and caregivers of children with special needs and how to support them, lower their stress and increase their effectiveness and resiliency.

The 18 breakout sessions feature topics such as developing financial trusts, faith and resiliency, individual education plans (IEPs), health and wellness, insurance waivers and dealing with grief. To see the full list, visit the symposium website.

A resource fair features 75 service and community agencies, companies and professionals specializing in medical support, recreation, community programs and services, home health and financial planning. The event is completely handicapped-accessible. To register or for more details about the event, visit the event website.